Moving to Spain from Sweden

Many Swedes choose Spain to retire, to work remotely or to spend a good part of the year. As an EU citizen you need no visa, but it pays to register properly and understand how your Swedish income is taxed once you become resident, because the treaty between the two countries treats each type of pension differently. Here are the essentials.

Key facts

• Entry and work: with a pass or nationellt id-kort you live and work in Spain without a visa or permit.
• Registration: if you stay longer than three months, apply within that period for the EU registration certificate (certificado de registro de ciudadano de la UE) at the Central Register of Foreign Nationals; it includes your NIE. After five years of continuous legal residence you can apply for permanent residence.
• Documents: under Regulation (EU) 2016/1191 Swedish public documents need no apostille; the multilingual standard form avoids translation.
• Driving: a Swedish körkort is valid without exchange; as a resident you will renew it with Spain’s DGT.
• Citizenship: Spanish citizenship requires 10 years of legal residence, DELE A2, CCSE and a declaration of renunciation. Sweden has allowed dual citizenship since 2001; check with your embassy what effect that declaration has.

How people usually move

• Pensioners. You register with sufficient resources and health cover; if Sweden issues you the S1 form, it is registered with the INSS. EU registration certificate
• Remote work for Sweden. You do not need the digital nomad visa; you register with your income and health insurance. Check the A1 form and tax with your employer.
• Work or business in Spain. Contract and social security registration, or registration as self-employed; then you register.
• Studies. Enrolment, health insurance and a declaration of resources.
• Non-EU family. A spouse, registered partner, children or dependent parents from outside the EU get the residence card for family members of an EU citizen. Family of EU citizens
• Spanish citizenship. After 10 years of legal, continuous residence. Spanish citizenship

Documents and apostille

• Pass or nationellt id-kort, valid.
• Utdrag ur belastningsregistret: not required for EU registration, but required for citizenship. You request it from the Swedish Police through their e-service with e-legitimation or on a paper form. It is issued in five languages, including Spanish, although any convictions appear only in Swedish.
• Personbevis from Skatteverket as proof of birth and civil status, with the EU multilingual form. Documents and translations
• S1 form if you are a pensioner with care paid by Sweden; if you work in Spain, your social security registration.
• Emigration notice to Skatteverket if you move for a year or more; keep the confirmation.

What to keep in mind

• The registration certificate is requested in person, by appointment, at the immigration office (Oficina de Extranjería) of your province or at a National Police station: form EX-18, fee 790 code 012 and your passport or id-kort. It is issued on the spot.
• Tax: with more than 183 days a year in Spain you are tax resident here. According to the Spanish Tax Agency, under the Spain–Sweden treaty pensions for services to the Swedish state are generally taxed only in Sweden, private pensions as a rule only in Spain, and Swedish social security pensions paid to Swedish nationals may be taxed in both countries, with relief given by Sweden.
• Common mistake: not declaring a Swedish pension in Spain because tax is already withheld in Sweden. Even if it is taxed there, it normally has to appear on your Spanish return.
• Passports and id-kort are handled by the Embassy of Sweden in Madrid.

Frequently asked questions

Related services